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    Devon Banfield

    Writer / Editor

    Dev Banfield is a reporter and columnist with Now Toronto. With a journalism diploma from Seneca College and an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Digital Media Studies from Ontario Tech University, she has worked as a reporter for the last eight years. She began her career as an intern with 680 News, transitioning to anchoring at their sister station CityNews Calgary, before moving to GMI. Working first as the executive producer of The Brandon Gonez Show, she then moved into a reporting role with Now Toronto. Since 2023, she has penned and published Queer & Now, a 2SLGBTQ+ culture column focused on telling the stories of Canada’s queer communities 365 days a year. Banfield is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Women and Gender Studies at Carleton University, where her research focuses on women’s involvement in Jamaica’s queer liberation movement. An avid reader and writer, Banfield is passionate about queer and BIPOC issues, women’s rights, and endometriosis research.

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  • ‘Where the culture lives,’ How Melanin Market is putting Black entrepreneurship at the heart of Toronto’s summer

    What to know Melanin Market is spotlighting Black-owned businesses, artists and creatives at Sankofa Square. Founder Kadija Hamidu says the market was created to give...
    Black woman smiling and making peace signs at Melanin Market outdoor event in Toronto.
    CultureFeatured

  • ‘We are not these vectors of disease anymore,’ New campaign takes aim at HIV stigma

    What to know ‘Just Say It!’ is a new national campaign using social media to spark open, candid conversations about HIV and reduce stigma. The...
    Two women having a conversation on a green sofa in a modern, well-lit studio with large windows and indoor plants.
    CultureFeatured

  • From drag king to activist: One Toronto woman’s remarkable journey through five decades of Queer history

    What to know Hager grew up in Calgary during the 1960s and 1970s, a time and place where violence and threats were common for Queer...
    Toronto woman in her 60s with glasses, purple shirt, and hat, reflecting her journey through five decades of Queer history, featured in NOW Toronto.
    CultureFeatured

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  • ‘A reassuring voice in moments of uncertainty’: Canada mourns broadcaster Lloyd Robertson

    What to know Lloyd Robertson has died at the age of 92, his family confirmed. The veteran broadcaster spent nearly 60 years in Canadian journalism,...
    Portrait of an elderly man in a suit with a blue tie, standing against a light-colored brick wall background.
    Your City

  • They couldn’t legally marry, but they held a wedding anyway. Now this Toronto couple is celebrating 30 years together

    One Toronto Lesbian couple reminds us of how far Queer rights have progressed in the last 30 years. Sitting across from Heather Jamieson and Christine...
    Two women sitting outdoors in front of green foliage and pink flowers, smiling at the camera, one with short gray hair and glasses, the other with short brown hair.
    CultureFeatured

  • Girls Forward: Toronto charity says that keeping girls in sports is crucial to the ongoing rise in women’s sports

    What to know Girls Forward Foundation says Canada's surge in women's professional sports must be matched with greater investment in girls' grassroots sport. Executive director...
    Young girls participating in a soccer training session outdoors, with one girl wearing boxing gloves, emphasizing sports and youth empowerment in Toronto.
    Culture

  • Where to eat during Toronto Carnival: 7 Caribbean restaurants serving island flavours

    Toronto is getting ready to turn up the heat for six days of Caribbean Carnival celebrations, bringing together music, mas, food and culture from across...
    Culture

  • ‘I thought it was fake,’ Toronto organization dedicated to Black women’s health says Marina Mabrey’s All-Star donation is bigger than the money

    What to know The Black Women’s Institute for Health (BWIH), a Toronto-based charity focused on improving health outcomes for Black women and girls, received a...
    Marina Mabrey preparing to shoot a basketball during a Toronto event, surrounded by spectators and officials.
    CultureYour City

  • Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2026: Your complete guide to Caribana events, parties and the Grand Parade

    What to know Toronto Caribbean Carnival returns for its 59th year, with events running from July 29 through the Aug. 3 long weekend. The Grand...
    Vibrant Caribbean Carnival parade with dancers in colorful costumes and a large crowd celebrating Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2026.
    Culture

  • Toronto forecast: Temperatures to feel like 36 C as heat, humidity and showers return this week

    https://nowtoronto.com/news/toronto-weather-forecast-july-27-31/ What to know Toronto will see hot and humid weather this week, with daytime highs ranging from 25 C to 29 C. Monday's temperature...
    Toronto skyline at sunset with CN Tower and city buildings visible from a park with trees and water in the foreground.
    Your City

  • Canadian Blood Services warns blood supply has dropped nearly 20%, urges Canadians to donate

    What to know Canadian Blood Services says the national blood supply has dropped by nearly 20 per cent since June 1, leaving several blood types...
    People donating blood at a medical clinic, lying on chairs with blood collection tubes and red stress balls in hand.
    Your City

  • ‘It’s euphoric,’ Blockobana returns to celebrate Black Queer joy during Toronto Caribbean Carnival weekend

    What to know Blockobana returns Aug. 2 to Barbara Hall Park as Toronto Black Pride's signature celebration during Toronto Caribbean Carnival. The annual event creates...
    Black Queer dancer performing joyfully during Toronto Caribbean Carnival weekend with a large crowd watching and capturing the moment.
    CultureFeatured

  • Black Ideas Grant awards $3 million to support Black-led organizations across Ontario

    What to know The Foundation for Black Communities is investing more than $3 million into 55 Black-led organizations across Ontario through its Black Ideas Grant...
    Three women of diverse backgrounds smiling and collaborating around a laptop in a modern office setting.
    CultureFeatured

  • ‘The history of the Queer movement is not all white boys,’ The often untold story behind marriage equality in Canada

    What to know Canada became the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage when the Civil Marriage Act came into force on July...
    A woman with short blonde hair, red glasses, and a dark blazer, and a couple at a wedding, smiling and holding hands, celebrating marriage equality in Canada.
    CultureFeatured

  • ‘What do we actually fall in love with?’: Why ‘Twelfth Night’ is Shakespeare’s ‘Queerest’ play

    What to know Dream in High Park is hosting a special Queer Night performance of Twelfth Night, creating a welcoming space for Toronto's 2SLGBTQIA+ community....
    Audience watching an outdoor Shakespeare play in a park with a large crowd seated on the grass and trees in the background.
    CultureFeatured

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